Subversion 2.0: Leaderlessness, the Internet, and the Fringes of Global Society

Why are conspiracy theories, extremist rhetoric, and acts of antagonism by fringe elements of society so much more visible today than in years past? In Subversion 2.0, Christopher Whyte makes the case that "leaderlessness"--characterized by an evolving and uneven feedback loop linking fringe spaces to mainstream elite rhetoric and popular discourse--has emerged as the default format of subversive activity in the digital age. By examining the uneven feedback loop of leaderlessness, Whyte argues that social Internet platforms act as a vehicle for transmitting and amplifying extreme rhetoric but often fail to moderate extremism in turn.

Christopher Whyte is Associate Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research focuses on the intersection of information technologies and international security. Specifically, his work examines the decision-making dynamics of cyber operations, the role of fringe virtual spaces in supporting influence campaigns, and the impact of artificial intelligence on cyber conflict. Whyte is an author or co-author of more than three dozen peer-reviewed articles on these subjects as well as three books on cyber conflict, information warfare, and military innovation.